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Back end of rotation providing lift to Rangers

Back end of rotation providing lift to Rangers

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072911 Derek Holland Brad Mills

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ANAHEIM -- The Rangers spent the first two nights of their four-game series here in Anaheim taking advantage of the back end of the Angels' rotation. But the back end of the Rangers' rotation has been a big advantage to them the entire season.

The Angels, going into Wednesday night's game, had received a combined 34 wins from the trio of Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana. The rest of their rotation had a combined 10 wins for a total of 44 for the whole rotation.

The Rangers went into Wednesday's game with 12 wins from Alexi Ogando, 11 each from C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland and 10 from Matt Harrison. That means the Rangers had received 34 wins from their three top winners and 21 from bottom two spots.

No other team in the American League had that many wins from the bottom of its rotation. The Yankees and the Red Sox were right behind with 20 wins.

"The fact that our young guys have stepped up, stayed healthy and made adjustments has been huge," Lewis said. "That plays to the whole morale of the team, knowing that your fourth and fifth guys are going to give you a quality start every time out."

The Tigers have the most wins from their top three starters in the AL. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello had combined for 41 wins. But the rest of the rotation had contributed 10 wins.